Kings Beat Jazz in OT, Take Series Lead

1999-05-13 04:00:00 PDT Sacramento -- It took them only 14 years to win a home playoff game, which means one thing: Watch out for these Sacramento Kings in 2013.

The NBA playoffs came to Arco Arena last night, a rare happening in the sporting world. The Kings took full advantage, earning an 84-81 overtime victory over Utah in Game 3 of their first-round series.

The win was significant, even historic. First, the Kings won a playoff game in front of their own fans for the first time since the franchise moved to Sacramento in 1985.

Then there's this stunning slice of reality: The Kings now lead this series, two games to one. They stand only one victory away from the Western Conference semifinals, with Game 4 against the Jazz tomorrow night in Sacramento.

Divac led the way with 22 points and 14 rebounds, including two huge hook shots in overtime. His presence inside helped the Kings overcome tepid shooting and a poor game from Chris Webber, who fouled out with 10 points.

There were other factors working in Sacramento's favor. Namely, the Kings leaned on their raucous, success-starved fans, who shook the building with constant noise.

This whole playoff thing remains fresh and exciting in Sacramento. The Kings have made the postseason only three times since they moved here from Kansas City - a three-game sweep to Houston in 1986, then a four-game loss to Seattle in '96.

They were 0-3 in home playoff games before last night. And now, amazingly, they are on the brink of eliminating Utah, the two-time defending Western Conference champions.

The Kings dare not look ahead.

"These guys were down 2-1 to Houston last year and then kicked their butt in Game 4," reserve guard Jon Barry said. "We know it's going to take a much better game than the one we played tonight."

Barry was referring mostly to his team's haphazard offense. The Kings surged to a 28-17 lead after one quarter, then vanished into a shooting funk and allowed the Jazz to chip away.

Still, the Kings played vigorous defense on Jazz star Karl Malone, at least in the first half. Malone got into early foul trouble and scored only two points in the half. He bounced back to finish with 22.

"They fought Karl hard early in the game," Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said. "It was a lack of patience on his part a couple of times. He rushed some shots."

In the end, the Kings turned to Divac. His first hook shot, over Malone, gave the Kings an 81-79 lead with 46 seconds left in overtime. Utah's Howard Eisley (21 points) promptly made a jump shot to tie the game.

Back came Divac, again with the hook shot, again over Malone. The Kings led 83-81 and had only one obstacle left in their way: Todd Fuller.

Yes, Todd Fuller.

Fuller, whom the Warriors regrettably drafted in the first round in 1996, entered the equation after Malone rebounded Bryon Russell's missed shot in the final seconds. Malone passed to a wide-open Fuller near the basket.

The Kings did the only logical thing: They fouled Fuller with 4.2 seconds left. Several timeouts and rising nerves later - Fuller looked positively scared - he missed both shots.

Scot Pollard made one free throw for the Kings and John Stockton missed one desperation, 3-point shot for the Jazz. And that was the ballgame.

Fuller missed his free throws amid a deafening roar.

"The crowd was fantastic," Barry said. "I guess it worked on Todd Fuller; they got inside his head."

The game flowed with intriguing possibilities even before tip-off, given Monday's events in Salt Lake City. There, in Sacramento's Game 2 victory, Webber delivered a resounding, set-the-tone body check on Stockton.

Then, on Tuesday's off day, Malone and Sloan sent their own message. They essentially told Webber to pick on somebody his own size. Then, and only then, Sloan and Malone might be impressed.

Harsh words and all, Malone never attempted to retaliate. The game was still playoff-style physical - Barry drew a flagrant foul for nailing Utah's Shandon Anderson - but Malone and Webber kept their distance.

And the Kings kept their magical, mystery ride alive.

"I can't be any prouder of our team," coach Rick Adelman said. "It seemed like so many things were going in the other direction, but we hung in there."